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Here's looking at you babe!

Wow, sometimes the world seems to warp past at break neck speed. But why is it that when you're waiting for your next order of yarn to come in that time can stand still? Our house has been filled with grumpy bottoms (and I don't mean my kids) for what seems like week now. I know I have been busy making longies when my kids say "not another monster mom!" Anyway, I have a great time personalizing each little face and can just picture the little bum bum they will be on.

Road Trip

I LOVE it when the family gets away for a couple of days! I of course love an all out family vacation, but there's something to be said for just getting away from the everyday routine. With the ages of my kids, give them a hotel with a pool and they're all set!! We had a really great time and we even got to spend time with my nephew too!

The bonus to a road trip is time on the road to get some knitting done. While we were gone, I got to finish this monster skirty!! I think it's great!! I had to do a lot of modifications to get it to turn out, but I'm happy with the end result...hope mama is too!

Sometimes you just have to skip to the good stuff!

Got my day started today with errands and grocery shopping. The littlest lady was sick so we did the abbreviated version which was just fine with the little man too. I must say though that I still managed to get enough to feed my family of 6 for a week on only $50 at the grocery store, one of my best runs yet!! What did I do before I learned how to coupon? Little tummies fed, nap time prayers said, kitchen cleaned up and then a moment of knitting! I love this time of the day. It always gives me a chance to pray and relax. It seems like time goes by so quickly that it's nice to get the chance to let it slow down once in a while.

So here are the pictures of the progress that I'm making. You'll have to ignore all of the strands of yarn at this point, I still have some weaving in to do. The extra strands don't usually bother me though, I think it's the ICU nurse in me...I'm used to untangling all of the tubes and wires so what's a few strands of yarn?

So these are called monster longies. When I'm done, that will be an adorable little monster face on the bum bum of these little pants. There are certain projects that are just fun from start to finish, and this is one of them for me. I have visions of jack o'lantern bum bums and bunny bum bums, and eye lashes and hair bows and... Anyway, you get the idea, the options are endless! Can't wait to see them in action on the backside of some adorable little person!

Progress

So, all of my curious friends, here is how far along I've come on the monster longies.

So far, they are a really easy knit and I think that the worst part is done. Had to do some short rows during the red section, but not bad at all. Any ideas what it is yet?

Like Mother Like Daughter

At the risk of sounding like proud mama, I just had to share a pic of the first project my 9 year old daughter finished on her quest to learn how to knit. She thought that she wanted to do a scarf but I thought a bracelet cuff would be much quicker and more rewarding.

It's so much fun to watch her enjoy something that I love so much!! I see trips to the yarn shop in our future :)

Working on my next project

Here are the colors for my latest and greatest project. They're called monster longies and I'm really excited about them! Keep tuned to see the finished project, but I know they're going to make you smile! It starts out with 20 rounds of K2P2 rib.

New Stitch

I've been interested in finding some new stitches to try out and I've searched through all of my sources to look for something that I haven't tried. The possibilities are endless and some are so beautiful. Today, I decided to make a pair of boot cuffs with one of the new stitch patterns

This one is called the mini cable from Lion Brand Yarns.

http://cache.lionbrand.com/faq/277.html?www=1&lbc=&language=En

It's really a mock cable (much faster to knit) but it gives a similar effect. I modified it slightly to be knit in the round. If you give this one a try in the round, CO on less stitch, skip the last stitch in each row, and do the exact opposite on every "ROW 2" (If it says knit, then purl and if it says purl, then knit)

Have fun giving this one a try.

Cooking with the little man

Yesterday was a small pause from the knitting frenzy to make some supper with my little man. He loves to help out in the kitchen (I think the taste testing might be his favorite part...please note the flour on his lips) Today, he helped me with stromboli dough...oh how he loves to knead!!

One Night Wonder

Nothing like instant gratification when you can knit a new cowl in the evening after work!!

I LOVE THESE!!

So we got some fresh powder on the ground last night and my 5 year old little man can't get his sled to go down the hill. It's cold, but I can't resist those little eyes so I'm getting ready to get bundled up and join him for a couple of runs down the hill in our back yard. I just had to post some pics of the shoes I made to match the Dr Seuss hat though because I'm in love with them.

Super quick knit. Pattern called knitting straight, but I adapted to in the round which was a lot less seaming in the end. I also opted for size US 3 DPN's to make for the smallest of feet.

http://shadkittypatterns.blogspot.com/2009/02/converse-booties-baby.html

One of those days

There are days that my mind just spins with new ideas for cute little knits. This is one of those days for me. I feel like my fingers can't move fast enough and that I could never have enough yarn. I'm completely addicted to the Berocco Vintage line of yarn right now and it just begs to be knit into anything adorable!! This may be one of my new favorites and I'm already giddy about the idea of the shoes that are going to be knit up to match!! Stay tuned...

The Finished Product

Well, the poppy hat is done and I ended up really liking it. I think I only ripped it out four times, added an extra section, and put it on a string holder 4 times to try it on...all in all, a very time consuming project. Am I the only one that that happens to? I'm pretty sure that I need to start a knitting diary with all of the pattern changes I make for better luck the next time around.

Cold Day Knitting

Hello everyone! It's a cold and dreary day here in northern Michigan so what better to do than work on some knitting orders? Not like I needed an excuse to knit! :) Today's project is the vintage hat. I have someone that wants it in an adult size but the pattern is only for children. After several tear outs, I think that I'm finally making some progress.